grab a mug

Does anyone else love hot drinks as much as I do?  I honestly get sad every year around April when it begins to get too warm to be clutching a steaming mug in my hands.  And I don't even like cold weather! 

We have some old faithful, tried and true hot drinks.  There is always lots of tea which, thankfully, I am now able to enjoy with my half British husband. 

There is also much hot chocolate, which I used to make from a powdered mix (oh the shame!), but now will only make from scratch.  Here's the recipe we use-

Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa

Dash salt

1/3 cup hot water

4 cups (1 qt.) milk

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

 Stir together sugar, cocoa and salt in medium saucepan; stir in water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Boil and stir 2 minutes. Add milk; stirring constantly, heat to serving temperature. Do not boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla.  (6 servings)

Last weekend, we added homemade chai lattes to our repertoire.  I altered Southern Living's recipe a bit and have shared my version below-
(Also, please note the picture from the magazine and how prominently that pound cake appears in it- can you blame me for having to make it?)

Chai Latte

Ingredients:
2 cups 1% milk

1/2 cup whole milk

1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, sliced  

dash anise seed

1/4 teaspoon whole cloves or dash ground cloves

1 cinnamon stick

1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns

2  regular-size black tea bags

Directions:

Bring first 8 ingredients and 1 cup water to a boil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Add tea bags; cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes. Pour mixture through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a heatproof pitcher, discarding solids. Serve warm or chilled over ice. (5 servings)

On the docket for the coming weekend is another new one- hot cider nog.  This was Steve's pick, but I'll admit, I'm intrigued. 

Hot Cider Nog

Ingredients:
2 cups half-and-half

1 cup milk

1 cup apple cider

2 large eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 cup bourbon (optional)

Sweetened whipped cream

Garnishes: cinnamon sticks, ground cinnamon, apple slices

Directions:

Whisk together half-and-half, milk, apple cider, eggs, sugar, 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg in a heavy saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, 15 to 20 minutes or until mixture thickens and coats a spoon. Remove from heat; stir in bourbon, if desired. Top each serving with sweetened whipped cream. Garnish, if desired. (8 servings)

What's your favorite hot drink?

Today I am busy getting ready for Saturday's craft fair.  I'll share some pictures tomorrow of all the great stuff we're taking!

*today's blog pictures courtesy of Southern Living and Hershey's*